Sankar Monastery in Leh

Sankar Monastery is the most awe-inspiring destination 3 km away from the main town of Leh. Hardly have you needed to walk more or less 30 minutes to reach such an imperial destination. This place will make you nostalgic. You may have a feeling of being in your ancestral house. A two storied complex will haunt you to pierce through the history of the place.



Apart from that this is a very sacred and peaceful place, absolutely ideal for your meditation. You can go to the place to survive away your stress and anxiety too. The vibrant colors of the flags surrounded by the stone walls would welcome you from far. The non theistic ancient religion will encompass you with a variety of tradition.

History and Architecture of Sankar Gompa

Sankar Monastery is an ancillary of the Spituk Monastery. It belongs to the Geluqpa or the yellow hat sect. The Buddha’s teachings of 108 volumes and the three images of Buddha’s are the Sakyamuni, the present Buddha and the future Buddha can be seen on the front balcony of the monastery. As you enter the stone walls you will get to see the majestic paintings of the unknown gods. They are none but the guardians of ‘four quarters of heaven’. A structure is attached to the exterior of the building known as ‘The wheel of life’. This is possessed by the God Yama who controls the destiny of a person after death.



On the opposite wall of it there is a precise incite of ‘The old man of long life’. There is also a big hall with high ceilings known as Du Khang and on the opposite side of the entrance there is an imperial throne which belongs to the chief Lama. The brilliant sculpture made of barley and butter is the key attraction. There is a statue of Avalokitesvara is roosted on the other side with 11 heads and 1,000 arms. The main theme of the monastery is ‘protecting’ which is vividly portrayed through the sculptures, idols and murals. On both the sides of the imperial throne there is a doorway that leads to a chapel where you will find the image of Tsong-Kha-Pa who was a founder of geluqpa sect.



Thereby you will also get to see a small outdoor area consisting of the Tibetan calendar and many beautiful murals that portray the lifestyle of the Lamas. Inside the outdoor area is the ‘Dukar-la-khang’ which is a small temple of the deity Dukar. It also includes the peacock blue mammoth statue which has 1000 heads and 1000 arms. Many female devotees offer bracelets to this deity. One of the top floors is the chamber of the relaxation of the chief Lama and the other Lamas. There is also a library from where one is able to see the Namgyal Tsemo hill. From the 15th century onwards Spituk Monastery was taken over by the Yellow Hat Sect. Previously it was institutionalized by the Red Hat Institution. Those who come to this Sankar Monastery are generally from the Geluqpa order or is said to be the consecutive incarnation of the Skyabaie Bakula Rinpoche.

Hotels nearby Sankar Gompa

These hotels are within one km from Sankar Monastery. There are many types of rates for the hotels. Settle down in any according to your budget.

• Hotel Antelope
• Thongsal
• Hotel Kanika Himalayan View
• Royal heritage resort
• Hotel Nezer Holiday Inn
  
  

Food Available near Sankar Gompa

Some Tibetan food you can taste. Foods like Momo, Lamb cooked in red sauce, dry foods, pancakes, biscuits all are available here. Even the mineral water is in plenty in the local Leh market.

Entry Fees of Sankar Gompa

You need only 20 (INR) as an entry fee to this monastery. If you are thinking of photography…. yes you are allowed to take photos; but without flash!

Timings of Sankar Gompa

A few monks reside in Sankar Monastery and so there is a strict restriction of visiting this place. In the morning you can get in between 7.00 a.m. - 10.00 a.m. and in the evening it is from 5.00 p.m. - 7.00 p.m. June to October is the best time to go there.

How to Reach Sankar Monastery

The best time to go to this place is the evening you reach Leh. Just a Half an hour walk from Leh town and you will reach Sankar Monastery. Relax and meditate there for a while and you will get rid of all the fatigue of your journey. Buses are available from Manali but bus routes are not open all through the year.

By Train: Leh can be reached by train also. The nearest railway station to Leh is Jammu.
By Air: Air services are also available from Jammu and Srinagar.

Sankar Gompa
Phone no.: 01982 252 297

Educate your passion for traveling by visiting such unearthly Sankar Monastery. You might feel to go there again and again in search of absolute peace and rare wisdom.